Questions about rolling back to 7

I got my new laptop today and it came installed with windows 8. I absolutely hate it, I don't like the shell and I just want this thing gone. It is ruining the experience of my first high end laptop. Please give me some advice or help.

I currently have
MSI GT60 0NE
Windows 8
250 GB Samsung SSD
750 GB HDD
20 GB RAM

(I have the drivers disk that was sent with the laptop)
Can I just go and buy Windows 7 Professional install it and then install this drivers disk without any issues.

 

It shouldn't be any different than doing a fresh installation.

MSI has drivers for the 0ne on Win7 64/Win7 32 on their site. Make sure your model has drivers and you should be good to go.

 

This thread may be relevant to you. My advice remains the same:

There's actually very few differences between W8 and W7, to the point where I'd personally say there's no compelling reasons to either upgrade or downgrade unless you have a touchscreen device with W8 drivers.

 

As noted you can you just first need to check with MSI site to make sure they have matching drivers for your laptop and from there you can tell if you can roll back to Windows7. But one thing to note if your able to you might have to purchase a Windows7 full installation disk or if M$ gives you downgrade option to go back to Windows7. So you will have to look into this as well to see your options. But I would say going back to Windows7 would be worth while considering problem you having so far. And maybe in the future go back to Windows8 if the need arises again.

 

I think that is the Elephand in the room...most don't have Tablets or Touchscreen. I have one primary Desktop/NAS/Server and the rest laptops all networked and networked printer and same home-group and it works wonders NAS and moving files from computer to computers is a God send. I do find it compelling that staying with Windows7 is the a better alternative for vast users unless they got Tablets or Touchscreen computers but then again I like to see my desktop and not all software have worked with Windows 8 or run properly. My run in with Windows8 preview was disastrous at the least and wiped clean reformatted to Windows7x64 Ulta Sp1 and haven't looked back.

 

You can do that. The key thing that you need is a legit Win7 Pro ID.

IMO it is a small convenience to also get a Win7/64_SP1 bootable DVD disc.

"deals/sales" on Win7/64_SP1 bootable DVD disc show up with some regularity at ~$120 (try google if newegg and amazon come up short), otherwise it will cost ~$140 for an oem package, which is generally lower priced than the retail package.

I'd be leery of any "open box" deals.

You might also try calling up MSI and asking if they will sell you a Win7/64 Pro ID for $50. That's what I paid Lenovo for my Win7/64 Pro ID.

 

If MSI will sell you a Win7/64 Pro ID for $50, it is easy to download the 3GB .iso file for Win7/64 Pro from various web sites (a legit copy of the software for free, it's the ID that you pay for) and make your own bootable DVD disc and/or a bootable USB flash drive, for installing Win7/64 Pro.

The attraction is saving $70-to-90 over other buy options; the one possible con is that the Win7/64 Pro ID may be locked into use only on your new MSI laptop mobo, and not able to be used anywhere else.

 

Thankfully, I don't think MSI enforces the SLIC lock, so it's just a matter of having the .iso/installation media and a valid key to install it.

 

Understanding downgrade rights

I thought M$ was going to allow OEM installs of win 8 to downgrade to Win 7 without cost as in above................

 

This doesn't prevent OEMs from embedding serial keys into the BIOS. The SLIC is referenced by Windows installation media as a means to sidestep piracy; some manufacturers are doing it (happens a lot with current Asus ultrabooks), and some aren't being so stringent.

So yes, there is the right to a free downgrade per Microsoft. The manufacturer's that insert keys into the SLIC and enforce the lockdown are the one's causing headache for downgrades/re-installs of previous versions of Windows.

 

You haven't even had Windows 8 one day and you're already going to get rid of it? And you don't even mention any crashes/incompatibility issues/etc.? That's ridiculous, you aren't even giving it a chance. And I'm saying this as probably the one member of this site who still runs XP.

If it's just the Metro interface you don't like, try Start8 - it has a free trial and is only 5 bucks for the full version. It lets you bypass Metro, gives you a Start menu, and gives you more of a Windows 7.1 feel than a Windows 8 feel.

And at least give Windows 8 a month for you to adjust to it. The "real life" word I've heard is that while yes, Windows 8 does have a learning curve, after a month or so it's fairly good. And I mean, I gave Vista 5 months to prove itself, and that was Vista, with compatibility issues all around. Don't stick with Windows 8 forever if it isn't working out, but at least give it a chance.

(And if it still isn't working out in 4 weeks, you've got links above to help out with the downgrade)

 

The question is: Why? Some of us don't have the time to futz around with operating systems just for the fun of it. Certainly I have neither the time nor the patience to give anything a month, or the energy to adjust to something I never asked for, for absolutely no tangible benefits whatsoever. Why in the world would I do this?

Mind you, now if there was anything else Windows 8 has to offer that would justify such an investment, I would be the first to go there. But "after a month it's fairly good" just doesn't cut it, at all. Not when I can work on a Windows 7 machine that is excellent, not just "fairly good", and finely tuned to my requirements. Sorry.

 

Put this simply not everyone has time to spend fixing problems. I have to maintain rough a dozen computer between me and my family members and fixing windows compatibility problem and software problem is something I have time spend time fixing when I have more important things to worry about. Example getting taxes and financial paper work is more important to me then having to figure out why is Metro not working with what I want it to do and still fix other family computer problem and hardware that is more important. I am one that doesn't have the month and month to play around with the O/S when it should be up and running and work for my needs not for M$ needs and wants. Also your talking about how they should stick with windows8 ironic considering your signature neither of those computer have Windows8 install on them. Ironic isn't it you tell the OP to stick with Windows8 but neither computer you have for the signature has Windows8 on them......

Just reading your signature tells all you don't like window8 or use it all...and telling others to stick to windows8 when they want a O/S to just work for them and not have to work to get the O/S to begin to work.....

 

More and more mainstream users will be coming out against the disaster that is Windows 8 soon. Busy people don't have time for Microsoft's gimmicks to try to force their mobile touchscreen OS on us, people just want their functionality back. It's the first time that I'm not upgrading to a new OS/product as I am usually an early adopter of most things - and I am absolutely dreading getting a new laptop with Win8 on it. What's worse, I'm dreading getting a new laptop for my dad who is just a regular mainstream user who wants simple functionality.

 

the strongest and most supported by actual experience point made thus far:

 

OMG, there are many compelling reasons to downgrade;
1.) software just will not work in windows 8.
2.) The interface is just not intuative for that user.
3.) as in my case no areo glass just knaws away.
4.) forget gadgets. (we all knew of volnerabilities so only useed trusted apps)
5.) no unified start button just a bunch of utils to get back some functionality.
6.) and we can still go on too.

1.) Reason to upgrade, you truly believe in this being the latest and greatest and are willing to buy into M$ bull.

Your statement there just goes to show the lay person with average intellect that you are hiding something which goes against furthering your cause. If you want people to take your advice seriously and listen then give proper and informed advice that actually has valid points. Not generic unsubstantiated and an obiously wrong opinion.

Now saying one day there may be a valid reason to upgrade is a valid point, and that there may be compeliing reasons to downgrade is a valid point as well. Saying there is no reason to downgrade if you are happy with windows 8 as is yet another valid point too.

The problem is we all all over the place here as users. Unlike the windows 7 upgrade, that other than XP holdouts, we really all wanted the upgrade. This is way worse than Vista where there were the three major camps either you wanted to keep XP, loved vista, or hated the bugs. This upgrade has too many camp divisions to count..........................

 

i rest my case.

 

I have been temped to buy Windows 8 a number of times just to try it out. I know that I can always reinstall 7. But in the end I always talk myself out of it. I just think what does Windows 8 offer me? And the answer is always nothing of value, just removing features from the OS that I have grown accustomed to over the years.

And really the only arguments that I hear for Windows 8 are that it is newer, you can pay extra money for some features that MS removed, and that other features that Microsoft removed aren't a deal breaker.

Oh wait, Windows 8 offers me some touch-screen gimmicks! Oh wait, my computer isn't touch-screen and I like using my mouse and keyboard.

 

Actually one point missed is one I have proved. That is with C2Q, ie q9200, over stock windows 7 there is a 10% performance increase in unoptimized multithreading and single threads. The scheduler is much enhanced over the old one. So this could be a valid reason for some to upgrade as well. This is a specific case though.........

Edit; that was one thing alot of people were hoping for with Windows 7 SP2, the Windows 8 scheduler that is..............